Three Stars
The three stars in ice hockey are the three best players in a game, with the “first star” considered the best of the three players, similar to the player of the match in other sports. Here are my “three stars” from yesterday’s NBA games.
First ⭐️
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander posted game highs of 29 points and nine assists (tied with Luka Doncic) as the Oklahoma City Thunder routed the Dallas Mavericks 117-95 in Game 1 of their Western Conference Semifinals series. Game 2 will be contested Thursday night in Oklahoma City.
Gilgeous-Alexander shot 8-19 from the field (2-4 on 3-pointers) and 11-13 from the free throw line. He also tied Jaylin Williams for the team lead in rebounds with nine and blocked two shots in his team-high 37 minutes of action.
Second ⭐️
Jaylen Brown scored a team-high 32 points as the Boston Celtics blew out the Cleveland Cavaliers 120-95 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals series. The teams will remain in Boston for Game 2 Thursday night.
The efficient Brown went 12-18 from the field — including 4-6 from 3-point range — and made all four of his free throws. He also grabbed six rebounds and committed just one turnover in 34 minutes played.
Third ⭐️
Derrick White scored 25 points and handed out a game-high five assists (tied with three others) in the Celtics’ series-opening win over the Cavaliers. White continued his hot shooting, going 9-16 from the field with seven 3-pointers made. He was charged with just one personal foul and no turnovers in 33 minutes of court time.
Milestones
White has made 20 3-pointers over his last three games. He became the fourth player in NBA history to make at least 20 3-pointers over a three-game span in a single postseason, joining Stephen Curry (2015 & 2018), Klay Thompson (2016), and Jamal Murray (2020).
Jayson Tatum compiled 18 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks in the Celtics’ win over the Cavaliers, his 100th career playoff game. At the age of 26 years and 65 days, Tatum is the third-youngest player in NBA history to reach that mark, trailing only Tony Parker (25 years, 28 days) and Kobe Bryant (25 years, 244 days).
The Boston Celtics scored 40 points in the first quarter, the team’s highest opening-period total in a Game 1 in franchise postseason history. The previous mark of 39 points was achieved twice (1980 ECS and 2020 ECS).
The Celtics have won four of their six playoff games by 20 or more points. Only two other teams in NBA history have recorded four such wins over a six-game span in a single postseason: the 2016 San Antonio Spurs and the 2019 Milwaukee Bucks.
The Celtics have a point differential of +93 over their last four games, the highest such figure in franchise history over a four-game playoff span. The previous record of +92 points was established in 1961 (March 23 to April 2).
The Oklahoma City Thunder have outscored their opponents by 83 points over the last four games, the largest point differential over a four-game playoff span in franchise history. The previous mark of +77 points was set in 2016 (April 16 to April 23).
Streaking
Donovan Mitchell scored a game-high 33 points in the Cavaliers’ loss to the Celtics. It’s the sixth straight series opener in which Mitchell has recorded a 30-point game. The only player in NBA history with a longer such streak is Michael Jordan (seven, twice).
White became the first player in Celtics history to make at least five 3-pointers in three consecutive playoff games. He’s just the third player in NBA postseason history to do so while making at least 50% of his attempts in each game, joining Klay Thompson (twice) and JR Smith.
Luka Doncic hit just one of his eight attempts from 3-point range, but he has now made at least one 3-pointer in each of his 35 career playoff games. It’s the second-longest such streak to start a postseason career in NBA history. Doncic also tied former Maverick Jason Terry (May 30, 2006 to April 27, 2010) for the eighth-longest such streak overall.
The Thunder have allowed 95 or fewer points in each of their five games this postseason. The last team to record five such playoff games in a row was the San Antonio Spurs in 2016.
Miscellany
Mitchell was the night’s top scorer, pouring in 33 points. He was followed by Brown (32), Gilgeous-Alexander (29), and White (25).
The Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley led all players with 13 rebounds last night. Also collecting double-digit boards were the Mavericks’ Daniel Gafford (11, playoff career high), Tatum (11), and the Celtics’ Luke Kornet (10, playoff career high).
Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander were the top playmakers last night, delivering nine assists apiece. Five players handed out five dimes each: the Cavaliers’ Darius Garland, Mitchell, Tatum, White, and the Thunder’s Jalen Williams.
Doncic has gone 5-35 (14.3%) from 3-point range over his last four games, the worst such percentage in NBA history by a player who attempted at least 30 threes over a four-game playoff span.